THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


GIFT  OF 

Oze  Van  Wyck 


.SPEECH 

\ 


OF  ' 


MR.  ELLIOTT,  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA, 


BEFORE  THE 


COMMERCIAL  CONTENTION, 

HELD  AT  KNOXVILLE,  AUGUST  10th,  1857, 


ON  THE  FORTIFYING  OF 


POET  ROYAL  HARBOR,  S.  0., 


AND  THE 


ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  COALING  STATION 
FOR  LARGE  GOVERNMENT  STEAMERS. 


COLUMBIA,    S.    C.: 

STEAM  POWER  PRESS  OF  CAROLINA  TIMES. 

1857.  ally 


GIF! 


HE 


SPEECH. 

MR.  PRESIDENT  :  During  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina  in  December 
last,  I  had  the  honor  of  submitting  similar  resolutions  to  these  that  I  now  offer  to  this 
body.  I  trust  that  this  convention  will  not  think  that  I  am  trespassing  too  much 
upon  its  patience,  when  I  assure  them  that  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina  had 
given  them  her  unanimous  approval,  and  that  any  measure  touching  Southern  devel- 
opment that  she  may  have  sustained  by  so  marked  an  approval,  could  not  be  a 
matter  of  indifference  to  her  sister  States,  now  assembled  in  this  convention. 

Since  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  to  carry  on  a  successful  foreign  trade  where  the 
countries  are  at  a  distance  from  each  other,  large  ships  are  absolutely  essential,  it  has 
become  a  matter  of  great  importance  to  the  cotton  region  of  the  slaveholding 
South,  that  they  should  have  harbors  along  their  coast  of  sufficient  depth  to  admit 
ships  of  the  larger  class.  Hitherto  it  has  been  supposed  that  there  existed  no  harbor 
along  the  Southern  coast  South  of  the  Capes  of  the  Chesepeake  that  would  admit  the 
largest  class  of  ships.  The  progress  of  the  coast  survey  has  developed  the  fact  that 
there  are  several.  Beaufort  in  North  Carolina  has  a  depth  of  17  feet  at  low  water . 
Brunswick  in  Georgia  has  a  similar  depth  ;  Port  Royal  in  South  Carolina  has  a 
depth  of  20  feet.  It  is  to  the  capacity  and  position  of  this  latter  port  that  I  wish  to  call 
the  attention  of  this  convention.  The  first  account  of  this  harbor  that  we  have  any 
authentic  information  of,  is  that  it  was  the  port  selected  by  the  French  Huguenots 
for  their  settlement  in  1562,  when  they  attempted  a  colony  under  Rebault.  He  desig. 
nated  it  as  the  Grand  Reiviere,  and  gave  the  most  glowing  description  of  its  capaci" 
ty  and  depth  of  water.  This  colony  was  abandoned,  owing  to  the  neglect  of  France 
to  sustain  it.  Sale,  in  his  attempt  to  colonise  Carolina,  under  the  English,  was  instructed 
to  take  possession  of  the  same  harbor,  which  they  in  their  loyalty,  from  its 
superiority  to  all  surrounding  ports,  gave  it  the  name  of  Port  Royal ;  a  name  it  has 
ever  since  maintained.  Sale  made  a  settlement  here ;  but  his  apprehension  of  the 
Spaniards  at  St.  Augustine  induced  him  to  remove  further  north,  to  old  Charlestown 
on  the  Ashley.  During  the  revolution  the  heavy  ship?  of  England  held  possession 
of  the  harbor,  and  their  frigates  re-entered  it  again  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  they  the  most 
maritime  power  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  were  well  acquainted  with  its  capacity  ^ 
while  our  own  government  were  ignorant  of  it  until  a  very  recent  period  ;  in  fact 
they  seemed  very  much  disposed  to  ignore  it  altogether  until  the  recent  survey  by 
Lieut.  Maffitt  has  demonstrated  the  truth  of  its  great  facilities. 

Port  Royal  Bar  is  situated  in  South  Carolina  between  Charleston  and  Savannah, 
on  the  32d  degree  of  North  latitude,  3  m.  46  s.,  Longitude  80  d.  30  m.  27  s.  It  has 
three  entrances,  one  with  17  feet  900  metres  in  width,  one  with  19  feet  in  depth 
and  1200  metres  in  width,  and  another  with  20  feet  in  depth  and  equally  wide. 

908 


The  mean  rise  of  the  tide  is  7  feet ;  at  spring  tide  it  rises  &  feet ;  and  as  these  tides  are 
greatly  increased  by  N.  E.  and  E.  winds,  it  shows  that  2°.  and  30  ieet  of  water  is  fre" 
quently  found  upon  the  bar — a  depth  that  equals  or  exceeds  that  of  New  York 
''This  harbor  is  easy  to  access  in  all  winds  except  N.  W,"  which  being  an  off  shore 
wind  is  not  a  dangerous  one  along  our  South  Coast,  aud  which  is  not  liable  to  extreme 
cold  as  is  the  case  in  the  higher  latitudes  in  winter.  After  you  have  entered  this 
harbor,  the  "up  channel  way  is  clear  and  deep  with  the  best  of  holding  ground* 
"Broad  River,  which  empties  into  Port  Royal  has  a  wide  channel,  with  an  average 
depth  of  five  fathoms  up  to  the  N.  E.  branch,  a  distance  of  29£  miles."  "Beaufort 
River,  also  a  tributary  of  Poet  Royal,  affords  18  feet  at  mean  low  water  until  within 
three  miles  of  the  town  of  Beaufort,  from  thence  up  not  less  than  14  feet  can  be 
found  at  low  water.  From  the  report  which  I  have  condensed,  it  will  be  perceived  that 
this  harbor  is  not  only  deep,  but  eminently  capacious  and  safe  when  once  entered. 
This  harbor  is  a  large  arm  of  the  sea  penetrating  among  high,  dry  sea  islands,  and 
having  no  fresh  water  stream  emptying  into  it  of  any  magnitude,  its  waters  are  as  briny 
as  the  ocean  itself,  and  hence  its  great  salubrity.  We  can  show  as  hale  and  hearty  a 
population  as  dwell  upon  the  earth,  there  are  at  least  a  half  dozen  positions  upon 
its  banks  where  a  city  could  be  erected,  that  would  have  depth  enough  at  its  wharves 
to  accoraodate  any  vessel  that  could  enter  its  bar.  Its  location  upon  an  island  would 
furnish  no  objection  to  commercial  greatness.  Tyre  and  Venice,  of  the  old  world, 
and  New  York  on  our  own  continent,  are  all  insular  cities,  and  a  position  like  this, 
in  a  warm  climate  as  our  is,  would  add  greatly  to  its  health  and  coolness.  Taking 
it  for  granted  that  I  have  demonstrated  that  this  harbor  is  the  best  as  to  depth  and 
capacity  South  of  the  Chesapeake,  the  next  point  to  discuss  is  its  position  geograph- 
ically in  respect  to  Southern  trade.  It  is  between  the  cities  of  Savannah  and 
Charleston,  and  this  fact  will  serve  to  illustrate  why  this  port  has  been  hitherto 
neglected.  These  cities  so  long  as  small  vessels  were  used  for  foreign  commerce 
were  amply  sufficient  to  every  want  of  our  Atlantic  Commerce.  It  would  appear 
from  its  approximation  to  these  two  cities,  that  this  Port  Royal  should  hereafter  be 
the  foreign  gate  or  outlet  to  their  commerce.  Now  as  to  its  position  in  respect  to  the 
Southern  Cotton  producing  States,  it  is  just  above  the  32d  parrallel.  Run  your  eye 
westward  from  this  point  on  the  map  and  you  will  find  that  the  degree  will  take 
you  through  the  heart  of  the  Cotton  States  of  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Mississippi. 
Yet  westward  still  it  will  pass  through  the  Northern  portion  of  Louisiana  and  Texas  ; 
passing  still  further  in  its  westward  course,  it  will  pass  through  a  portion  of  New  Mex- 
ico—will enter  that  portion  of  territory  South  of  the  Rio  Gila,  acquired  by  the 
Gadsden  Treaty,  aye,  even  the  same  territory  of  Arizona  which  is  even  now  asking  for 
a  seat  of  sisterhood  among  us,  crossing  the  Rio  Colorado  above  its  junction  with  the 
Gulf  of  Calafornia,  aud  passing  onward  strikes  the  Pacific  Ocean  in  the  neighborhood 
of  San  Diego.  This  is  the  shortest  route  from  the  North  Pacific  to  the  North  Atlantic 
Ocean.  If  you  take  a  higher  latitude  the  continents  widen  its  distance,  if  you  pursue 
a  lower  latitude  you  will  encounter  the  Peninsula  aud  Gulf  of  California  on  the  Pacific 
Coast,  if  you  still  pursue  a  more  Southern  route  you  will  still  encounter  the  Peninsula 
of  Florida  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  When  we  reflect  that  from  the  cities  of  Charleston 


and  Savannah  there  is  a  continuous  Rail  Road  connexion  with  the  Mississippi  at  Memphis 
and  a  progression  on  to  Vicksburg,  and  that  from  these  points  they  are  progressing 
westward  to  Shreveport  and  Fulton,  and  that  it  is  almost  certain  that  these  two  lines 
will  form  aFsingle  trunk  at  Fort  Belknap  in  Northern  Texas  and  is  to  continue  on  to 
the  Pacific  at  San  Diego — it  would  seem  that  these  cities,  Charleston  and  Savannah, 
should  be  the  outlet  for  the  trade,  and  they  not  having  the  requisite  of  deep  water, 
that  Port  Royal  ought  to  be  the  location  of  the  Eastern  terminus.  The  topographical 
Engineers  directed  to  survey  the  Western  route  to  the  Pacific,  have  declared  that  the 
32d  degree  is  the  shortest,  most  feasible  and  most  economical  route.  Capt.  Humphrey, 
in  a  recent  publication  re-asserts  the  same  conclusion  that  the  32d  parallel  will  be  30 
millions  of  dollars  the  cheapest,  and  400  miles  the  shortest  also.  It  will  run  through 
a  climate  that  will  admit  of  its  use  throughout  the  entire  year.  It  requires  but  little 
enterprise  and  little  capital  from  the  slaveholding  South  to  inaugurate  this  Commer- 
cial Market,  at  Port  Royal.  It  is  situated  on  the  line  of  the  great  cotton  States  at  the 
nearest  point  of  deep  water  upon  the  Atlantic,  and  is  of  easy  access  to  the  great 
manufactories  of  cotton  both  in  Europe  and  North  America.  Its  location  at  this  point 
will  call  into  vigorous  play  all  the  railroad  enterprise  of  the  Southern  country — is  now 
of  easy  access  by  steamers  from  Savannah  and  Charleston.  From  the  former,  there 
is  a  safe,  deep  inland  passage  that  can  be  made  at  all  times  of  the  tide,  and  could 
be  accomplished  as  regularly  as  any  other  steamboat  route  that  is  now  run  over  in 
the  same  distance  of  60  miles.  The  Charleston  and  Savannah  rail  road  will  approach 
within  a  distance  of  25  miles  any  position  that  is  likely  to  be  fixed  upon  as  the  site  of 
a  city.  Such,  then,  is  the  situation  of  this  magnificent  harbor,  in  respect  to  its  location, 
to  the  cotton  regions  of  the  South.  Now  how  is  it  situated  in  respect  to  foreign 
commerce  with  Europe  and  to  its  position  as  Canada  and  the  Northern  Atlantic 
States  ? 

The  Gulf  Stream  runs  immediately  in  front  of  its  mouth.  Vessels  bound  to  Europe 
or  the  North,  will  take  its  favoring  currents  and  proceed  on  their  voyage,  on  their 
return  voyage  from  the  North.  By  keeping  near  the  coast  they  avoid  its  contrary 
current.  This  is  easily  done,  and  is  the  habit  of  the  coasting  Captains— this  they  are 
able  to  do,  as  far  South  as  Savannah ;  but  in  proceeding  South  in  order  to  go  around 
Cape  of  Florida,  the  danger  and  peril  of  the  voyage  increase  in  an  eminent  ratio.  The 
narrow  pathway,  between  the  Bahamas  and  the  coast  of  Florida,  which  is  not  occupied 
by  the  opposing  current  of  the  Gulf  Stream  in  its  propulsive  course  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  is  occupied  on  either  hand  by  dangerous  shoals  and  wayward  currents.  Hence 
the  wrecking  business,  is  carried  on  as  a  matter  of  most  profitable  employment.  The 
loss  along  this  coast,  in  a  single  year  has  been  estimated  at  a  million  of  dollars.  Now 
let  us  examine  the  position  of  Port  Royal,  as  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  voyage  to 
Europe.  Let  us  take  Liverpool  as  the  port  most  apt  to  be  frequented  for  the  disposal 
of  the  great  Southern  staple.  Upon  examining  the  chart  laid  down  in  Lieut.  Maury's 
Physical  Geography  of  the  Sea,  we  will  find  that  a  ship  leaving  this  Port  Royal,  would 
take  advantage  of  the  currents  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  and  reach  her  port  in  the  usual 
course,  pursued  by  vessels  going  to  Liverpool  from  American  ports.  Upon  returning, 
a  new  route  may  be  taken  with  decided  advantage,  when  a  Southern  Port  is  to  be 


6 

reached,  particularly  when  steamers  are  the  motive  power.  Leaving  Liverpool,  a  vessel 
might  take  advantage  of  the  current  that  sets  to  the  Southward,  along  the  coast  of 
France  and  Spain ;  she  could  touch  at  either  the  Azores,  or  Madeira — and  passing  along 
in  the  slack-water,  upon  the  Northern  verge  of  the  Sargasso  Sea,  touch  Bermuda,  or, 
passing  on  either  side  of  it,  with  the  currents  setting  here,  as  it  does,  to  the  westward 
strike  the  Gulf  Stream,  which  is  narrow,  at  this  point,  and  easily  crossed,  and  enter 
the  Port  Royal  in  32nd  deg.  of  latitude.  This  route  would  be  a  favorite  one  for  the 
Southern  latitude,  and  would  be  free  from  the  intense  cold,  and  boisterous  weather  of 
the  Northern  passage  in  winter,  and  in  summer,  it  is  always  favored  by  the  trade  winds. 
This  is  the  route  pursued  by  Columbus,  and  these  are  the  same  favoring  breezes  that 
drove  him  onward  from  the  old  world,  so  much  to  the  terror  of  his  companions. 

This  position  at  Port  Royal  bears  a  very  important  position  to  the  Rice,  Sugar,  and 
Cotton  region  of  the  slave  holding  South.  It  also  has  a  very  important  bearing  upon  the 
products  of  the  great  West  that  find  outlet  through  the  Mississippi  into  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  and  thence  into  the  Atlantic.  Every  cargo  of  gold  from  California  across  the 
Isthmus  must  of  necessity  in  its  transit  to  Europe,  or  the  Northern  States,  pass  by  the 
portals  of  this  very  harbour.  If  there  was  a  direct  road  from  San  Diego  which  has  a 
deep  harbour  on  the  Pacific  to  this  harbour  of  Port  Royal  the  'deepest  on  the  Southern 
Atlantic,  what  a  vast  amount  of  distance  and  of  dangerous  navigation  would  be  saved . 
China  and  Japan  would  be  at  our  door.  This  harbour  is  the  only  one  that  will  admit  a 
line  of  battle  ships  or  a  large  steamer  from  the  Chesepeake  to  the  Capes  of  Florida 
a  distance  extending  over  twelve  (12)  degrees  of  latitude  along  the  Atlantic  Coast.  In 
time  of  war,  it  is  the  Key  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  A  hostile  fleet  stationed  safely  by 
within  its  ample  harbour  could  effectually  cut  off  all  the  commerce  between  the  Northern 
and  Southern  portions  of  the  Union  and  would  annihilate  our  foreign  commerce.  An 
enemy  in  the  position  would  be  like  an  eagle  on  his  eyre,  he  could  swoop  down  upon 
his  prey  and  then 

"  Regain  his  perch  that  far  o'erlooks  the  main 
Feast  with  fierce  eye  and  hold  his  watch  again." 

Yet  this  harbour  is  ignored  by  the  Federal  Government.  Not  a  buoy  floats  upon  its 
waters ;  not  a  light-house  stands  upon  its  shores ;  not  a  cannon  is  there  mounted  to 
protect  the  fugitive,  or  repel  the  foe.  In  its  capacity  for  defence  it  stands  as  it  did 
three  hundred  years  ago  when  the  flag  of  Jein  Rebault  floated,  in  discovery,  upon  its 
splendid  solitude.  What  a  strange  commentary  is  this  upon  southern  forecast — strange 
that  the  only  port  that  could  be  used  for  her  destruction  or  her  commercial  deliverance 
from  Northern  dominion  should  have  remained  so  long  ignored  by  the  government  and 
her  people — and  it  is  only  now  when  the  Southern  heart  is  dimmed  and  clouded  by 
danger  that  the  glimmering  of  light  begins  to  shoot  feebly  upon  our  vision  amid 
o'erspread'mg  darkness.  Let  us  no  longer  be  idle — let  us  be  up  and  doing.  The  reso- 
lutions express  the  initiative,  let  us  pursue  it  to  its  end — let  us  animate  each  other  in 
this  onward  progress.  Who  can  estimate  the  importance  to  the  South  or  the  world  o 
this  enterprise. 

When  I  behold  the  vast  assemblage  before  me,  composed  not  of  politicians,  not  of  the 


waiters  on  Federal  honors— but  the  citizens,  the  tax-payers  congregated  Here  from  the 
remote  regions  of  the  South  and  South  west,  in  whose  bosoms  beat  ihe  true  pulse  of 
the  Southern  heart,  I  do  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  accomplish  something.  If  anything 
that  I  have  said  should  waken  Southern  enterprize  to  a  great  result,  I  should  be  most 
amply  rewarded  for  my  presence  in  this  assembly.  Why  gentlemen  of  the  South,  we 
can  accomplish  anything  if  we  are  united,  and  direct  our  energies  to  its  accomplish- 
ment. Behold  this  vast  Southern  empire  of  ours,  extending  from  the  Capes  of  the 
old  Dominion,  to  the  Rio  Grande.  Behold  it  teeming  with  wealth, strength  and  human 
happiness.  It  is  the  creature  of  our  own  energy — the  result  of  our  own  enterprise, 
inhabited  by  two  distinct  races,  the  superior  directing  the  physical  capacity  of  the 
inferior.  We  furnish  the  great  proportion  of  the  food,  the  clothing  and  the  luxuries 
of  mankind,  the  elements  of  national  wealth  are  in  our  own  reeking  soil.  The 
development  of  commercial  greatness  is  in  our  own  hands.  Mankind — civilized 
mankind  cannot  exist  without  our  products.  Let  us  be  just  to  ourselves,  pass  these 
resolutions,  demand  that  the  common  Government  of  the  nation,  shall  defend  your 
coast,  demand  that  she  shall  inaugurate  the  great  port  of  the  cotton  region  by  sending 
heavy  steamers  to  coal  upon  its  banks,  and  illustrate  to  commercial  Christendom  that 
your  deep  waters  are  open  to  commercial  enterprise. 

We  ask  for  nothing  but  strict  justice,  we  would  receive  nothing  more,  give  us 
defences  and  give  us  the  opportunity  of  commercial  development,  that  which  our 
constitution  guarantees  to  all. 

If  foreign  nations  see  that  our  own  government  appreciates  this  southern  harbour  of 
Port  Royal,  by  sending  its  great  steamers  within  its  safe  and  capacious  waters,  they  too 
will  imitate  its  example — and  we  will  have  no  need  of  building  steamers  of  our  own. 
We  have  only  to  place  our  wealth — the  products  of  our  soil,  our  rice,  our  wheat,  our 
corn,  our  sugar,  our  bacon  and  cotton  upon  its  banks  beside  its  deep  waters,  and  the 
carrying  trade  of  the  commercial  world  is  at  our  service.  Who  knows  what  may  be  the 
result  of  our  action  in  this  matter  ?  Steam-power  has  revolutionized  human  progress, 
under  its  mighty  impulse.  We  see  Cities  and  States  and  Empires  springing  into  existence 
as  if  touched  by  the  wand  of  the  enchanter!  Who  knows  but  this  little  spot  of 
earth,  this  harbour  of  Port  Royal,  beautified  by  the  hand  of  God,  having  its  location 
beside  the  mighty  deep,  hitherto  spurned  by  the  Federal  Government— neglected  by 
its  parent  state— overlooked  and  dsspised  by  its  sister  ports  of  the  South — who  knows — 
but  what  she  may  not  hereafter  come  forth  from  her  obscurity  like  the  fabled  mistress 
of  the  glittering  slipper,  arrayed  in  Royal  apparrel  and  wearing  on  her  brow  the 
Imperial  Commercial  diadem  of  this  vast  slave  holding  empire  of  ours. 


^ejubject  to  immediate  recall. 


T2lA-38m-5,  u 
(J40lslO)476B 


